December 7, 2000November Volume Exceeds 1999 by 23 Percent
The Options Industry Council (OIC) today announced that November equity options volume was 58,690,754 contracts (23,618,359 puts and 35,072,395 calls), which is 23 percent higher than the 47,750,154 contracts (14,277,276 puts and 33,472,878 calls) traded in November 1999.

October 3, 2000Equity Options Volume Surpasses 1999 Record
The nations options exchanges have exceeded the annual record for equity options volume, according to The Options Industry Council (OIC). Through Sept. 30, year-to-date volume was 484,979,728 contracts, which surpasses the total annual volume record set in 1999 with 444,765,224 contracts.

September 6, 2000Year-to-Date Volume for Equity Options Nears Total for 1999
The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today that year-to-date equity options volume of 431,653,994 contracts is just 13,111,231 contracts short of breaking the total annual volume record set in 1999, with 444,765,224 contracts.

August 3, 2000Equity Open Interest Reaches New Heights In July
Although the summer months are historically sleepy for the financial markets, The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today that equity open interest reached a record high on July 21, with 65,498,515 contracts. This record surpasses the one recently set on April 20 with 63,292,614 contracts.

June 28, 2000Options Information Center for Investors, Brokers Begins Operation at OCC on July 3
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced today that a new investor call center for options information begins operation at OCC's Chicago headquarters on July 3. The center, Options Industry Services, is accessible to the public by phone or e-mail and it will serve as the industry's central resource for options education and information.

June 7, 2000May Equity Options Volume Up 67% From 1999
The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today that equity options volume for May was 51,028,369 contracts - surpassing last May's total by 67%. May 1999 volume was 30,507,167 contracts.

May 10, 2000Surge In Equity Options Trading Continues With April Gains
The month's trading volume hit 55,549,490 contracts, up 48% from the April 1999 total of 37,656,322. And the daily average was 2,923,657, a sharp 63% increase from 1,793,158 in the comparable period last year. The year-to-date volume figure is 227,715,525.

May 5, 2000Yankelovich Options Investor Study Summary (PPT | 199k - 31 pages)
The study took a look at approximately 2,000 investors, divided between options and non-options investors, who represented a cross-section of the investment community. It is OIC's second study of this kind that examines and compares the investment practices, demographics and attitudes towards investing of options and non-options investors. The first study was released by OIC in 1995.

May 5, 2000OIC Study Reveals That Options Users are Web-Savvy, Wealthy and Active Investors
A new industry study of options investors, commissioned by The Options Industry Council (OIC) and conducted by Yankelovich Partners, Inc., reveals that investors of options are loyal to investing in options, wealthy in income and assets, and technologically savvy when it comes to using the Internet for investing.

May 5, 2000Options Information Center to Open in July
The Options Industry Council (OIC) and The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced today that a comprehensive Options Information Center is scheduled to begin operation on July 3, 2000 for brokers and retail investors interested in obtaining one-on-one information about options.

April 5, 2000Equity Options Volume Sets New Monthly Record
The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today that equity options volume for March hit a new record with 66,172,654 contracts - surpassing the previous record of 56,190,292 set in January. The March 2000 figure shows a 92% increase over March 1999 (34,524,034).

March 13, 2000Options Industry Council Appoints PR Director
The Options Industry Council (OIC) today announced the appointment of Pam Tvrdy as Director of Public Relations. In this newly created position, Tvrdy will design, direct and implement communications strategies to strengthen awareness of the OIC's extensive educational programs about the uses of equity options.

March 8, 2000February Equity Options Volume Up 85% From 1999
The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today that equity options volume for February was 49,803,089 contracts - surpassing the February 1999 total by an astounding 85% (26,955,448 contracts).

February 7, 2000New Year - New Records
The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today that in January, for the fourth month in a row, equity options volume reached a new high with 56,190,292 contracts changing hands. This surpasses the January 1999 total by 61% (34,804,991 contracts).

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This web site discusses exchange-traded options issued by The Options Clearing Corporation. No statement in this web site is to be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell a security, or to provide investment advice. Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (investorservices@theocc.com).